Designed by architect Matthew Vande, this mountain home near Hendersonville NC, makes good use of a challenging west-facing slope. Valuable shade trees to the west were preserved and generous covered porches were added for further protection from the setting summer sun. To the south, extra site excavation with boulder retaining walls open up more of the grade to the lower level, for better outdoor living connections, winter sunshine and passive solar performance.
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Building new is an opportunity for healthier, indoor-air-quality. Many construction decisions influence the health of indoor-air. We always include balanced outdoor-air ventilation, account for indoor pollution sources, and recommend materials meeting the needs of the chemically sensitive. Smart indoor-air-quality is the most important measure for health in your home, and we are among the most important builders to choose for this hidden level of quality.
Read More +Building science works mostly hidden, behind the finishes and surfaces that we touch and see. Modern levels of insulation demand more air-sealing to be effective and better weather barriers, to resist water damage and moisture problems. Our blogs and nationally published articles highlight important hidden craftsmanship including; rain-screens, passive-solar-design, and water-resistant window installations. We are building science experts, incorporating best practices in everything we build.
Read More +The building envelope encompasses the thermal and weather barriers to the ground and outside world. It has many dissimilar parts with penetrations, transitions and important connection details. Little things add up to a big picture affecting indoor-air, energy costs and durability. Our record-breaking blower door results prove, we take the building envelope as seriously as our home's aesthetics.
Read More +Most of our custom building projects include architects and designers. We created the Springtime Cottage as a small Passive-Solar-Design, adaptable to different building sites. Master-on-main with ADA accessibility, 3bed/2bath, and a simple design fitting for most neighborhoods. It's easily modified for personal needs and challenging building sites. A good fit for those seeking passive-solar simplicity in a traditional and attractive architectural form.
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A published article in Fine Homebuilding magazine's issue 254 November 2015. This article tackles the complicated subject of window installation, focusing on preventing water leaks and improving airtightness.
Passive Solar Design is the most efficient way to heat a home and this is the most cost-effective path for measurable performance improvement.